The Original First Lady of the US: Martha Washington Quiz

She was America's first first lady, a mother and an organizer of extravagant social events. Take this quiz to see how much you know about Martha Washington.

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Question 1 of 30

What was Martha Washington's maiden name?

Dandridge

Martha Washington's maiden name was Dandridge, and she was the oldest daughter of John Dandridge and Frances Jones.

Custis

Jones

Question 2 of 30

Martha Washington was born on her family's plantation in which colony?

North Carolina

Maryland

Virginia

Martha Washington was born on a plantation near Williamsburg, Virginia, on June 21, 1731.

Question 3 of 30

What was the name of the Dandridge family plantation?

Mount Vernon

Chestnut Grove

Chestnut Grove was located along the Pamunkey River in New Kent County, Virginia.

Arlington House

Question 4 of 30

True or false: Martha Washington attended one of the finest schools in Virginia.

true

false

It was uncommon for young women to attend school in colonial America. Martha was taught at home and learned to read, write, do basic math and manage a household.

Question 5 of 30

How many siblings did Martha Washington have?

seven

Martha Washington had seven siblings, including three brothers and four sisters.

five

three

Question 6 of 30

When did Martha Washington marry her first husband?

1749

1750

Martha Washington married Daniel Parke Custis on May 15, 1750.

1751

Question 7 of 30

How old was Martha Washington when she married Daniel Parke Custis?

16

18

Martha Washington married him one month before her 19th birthday.

20

Question 8 of 30

What was the name of the plantation that Daniel Custis owned and shared with Martha Washington?

Montpelier

Monticello

White House

White House was located just 4 miles (6 kilometers) down river from the Dandridge home, Chestnut Grove.

Question 9 of 30

What was the primary crop the White House plantation produced?

tobacco

The White House plantation was a successful producer of tobacco. Evidence of Martha's involvement in the plantation business is found in letters she wrote to British tobacco traders and merchants.

corn

cotton

Question 10 of 30

How many children did Martha Washington and Daniel Custis have?

none

two

four

Martha Washington and Daniel Custis had four children: Daniel, Frances, John ("Jacky") and Martha ("Patsy"). Of the four, only John and Martha lived past childhood.

Question 11 of 30

When did Daniel Custis die?

1755

1757

Daniel Custis died on July 8, 1757. Washington, who was 20 years younger than Custis, inherited his 15,000-acre (6,070-hectare) estate .

1759

Question 12 of 30

Where did Martha and George Washington meet?

at a theater in Fredericksburg

at the opera in Richmond

a cotillion in Williamsburg

Martha and George Washington met at a cotillion in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Question 13 of 30

When did Martha and George Washington marry?

1759

Martha and George Washington married on Jan. 6, 1759, at White House plantation.

1761

1763

Question 14 of 30

How many children did Martha and George Washington have?

none

Martha and George Washington had no children together. However, Martha brought her two surviving children, "Jacky" and "Patsy," with her to Mount Vernon.

two

four

Question 15 of 30

When Martha met Col. George Washington, which war had he recently fought in?

Revolutionary War

French and Indian War

George had recently served as a Virginia militia colonel in the French and Indian War.

King George's War

Question 16 of 30

True or false: Martha Washington was the first woman to be featured on American paper currency.

true

Martha's portrait appeared on the front of the $1 silver certificate of 1886 and 1891 and on the back of the 1896 $1 silver certificate.

false

Question 17 of 30

How old was Martha Washington's daughter, Patsy, when she died?

13

15

17

Patsy was 17 years old when she died. Patsy suffered from seizures throughout her childhood and died on June 19, 1773, following a massive seizure.

Question 18 of 30

When did Martha Washington's son Jacky get married?

1772

1774

John "Jacky" Parke Custis married Eleanor Calvert on Feb. 3, 1774, at the bride's family home in Maryland.

1776

Question 19 of 30

When did Martha Washington's husband George take over as commander in chief of the Continental Army?

1775

George Washington took charge as commander in chief of the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the winter of 1775. Martha Washington left Mount Vernon to join George in Massachusetts just before Christmas and stayed until June 1776.

1776

1777

Question 20 of 30

When did Martha Washington spend the winter with husband George and his troops in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania?

1777

1778

Martha Washington joined her husband George and his troops at Valley Forge in February 1778. Martha spent the winter caring for the sick and wounded, repairing clothing and campaigning for donations from her expanding social circle.

1779

Question 21 of 30

Martha's son Jacky died on Nov. 5, 1781. What was the cause?

gunshot wound

infected amputation

camp fever

Jacky enlisted, contracted "camp fever" and died shortly after joining the army. "Camp fever" is another name for epidemic typhus, a bacteria that is quickly spread person to person in overcrowded populations. The disease causes headache, fever, vomiting and delirium and can lead to kidney and heart failure.

Question 22 of 30

How many grandchildren did Martha and George Washington adopt?

one

two

Martha and George Washington adopted two of their grandchildren, Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis and George Washington "Wash" Parke Custis.

three

Question 23 of 30

Where was the first presidential residence located?

Washington

Philadelphia

New York City

New York City was the first capital of the U.S. and site of the first presidential residence. Martha And George moved to the city in the spring of 1789.

Question 24 of 30

What nickname did the press give Martha Washington when her husband became president?

"The First Lady"

"Lady Martha"

"Lady Washington"

When George was elected president, the press dubbed Martha Washington "Lady Washington." The term "first lady" was first widely used in the 1870s to describe Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of the 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes.

Question 25 of 30

When did Martha and George Washington move back to Mount Vernon?

1796

1797

George Washington's second term as president officially ended with the inauguration of John Adams on March 4, 1797. Soon after, the Washingtons moved back to Mount Vernon.

1798

Question 26 of 30

What year did Martha Washington become a widow for the second time in her life?

1799

Martha Washington was widowed for the second time when George Washington died on Dec. 14, 1799. Following George's death, Martha closed the bedchamber and moved herself to the third floor of the mansion.

1800

1801

Question 27 of 30

Which friend of the Washingtons delivered a eulogy including the famous line "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen"?

John Adams

Henry Lee

Henry Lee was the Washington family friend who delivered a eulogy with this famous line.

Thomas Jefferson

Question 28 of 30

Which federal building in Washington contains a tomb meant for President George and Martha Washington?

the White House

the Washington Monument

the Capitol Building

The couple was interred in the family tomb at Mount Vernon and was never moved to the Capitol building tomb, which remains empty.

Question 29 of 30

True or false: After George Washington died, Martha burned nearly all of the letters between them.

true

In an effort to keep her relationship with George private, Martha burned nearly all of their letters after his death. Only three known letters between George and Martha exist. Two were found in a desk Martha gave a granddaughter and one was discovered in George Washington's documents.